World

Did deadly quake create a new island?

The Canadian Press -
Sep 24, 2013 / 11:10 am | Story:
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Photo: The Canadian Press - The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

People rush out their offices after they felt a major earthquake that struck Baluchistan province in southwest Pakistan, 693 Kilometers (430 miles) from Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. A deadly earthquake struck Tuesday in southwestern Pakistan sending people fleeing into the streets and praying for their lives as buildings swayed, officials said. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Pakistani officials are investigating whether the powerful earthquake that killed dozens also created a new island off the southern coast.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department's director general, Arif Mahmood, says witnesses have reported that a small island has appeared near the port of Gwadar.

He says the temblor could have caused the earth under the sea to rise, but officials need to investigate further.

Gwadar Police Chief Pervez Umrani says the new land mass is visible from the beach. He says the mass is about 9 metres (30 feet) high and 100 metres (109 yards) long.